News 13:00

BULLETIN 12 February 1 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Denel says it is making a return to the international markets
# Home Affairs launches its digital Trusted Tour Operator Scheme
# And tennis: The US Open revamps the mixed doubles format

# State-owned arms manufacturer Denel says it continues to grow its global profile, with a strong presence at the International Defence Exhibition and Conference in Abu Dhabi next week. The event will have around one-thousand-400 exhibitors from 65 countries and will attract some 135-thousand visitors. Denel’s spokesperson, Pam Dlamini, says the event is an ideal platform to re-introduce their products, which are regarded as cost-effective solutions in the defence and security environments:

# The Department of Home Affairs will launch its digital Trusted Tour Operator Scheme platform today. The system allows vetted tour operators in India and China to submit group visa applications digitally, cutting red tape and enabling three-day visa approvals. With only four South African missions serving over 2.8-billion people in these countries, the scheme eliminates queues and forms. The department emphasises that this move aims to supercharge tourism growth and create employment.

# Nine-year-old Emaan Fatima Ghumman, who was kidnapped outside Dreamland Primary School in Buffalo Flats, East London, last Tuesday, has been reunited with her family. She was reportedly dropped off near a police station in the early hours of this morning. The family confirmed Emaan is traumatised and receives treatment following the ordeal. Police are investigating the incident.

# Tennis: The US Open is moving its mixed doubles event a week before the main tournament begins. The event will be made up of 16 teams, with eight teams earning direct entry based on their combined singles ranking playing alongside eight wild-card entrants. The early round matches will be the best-of-three sets played to just four games, with a deciding point played at deuce. Tournament director Stacey Allaster says the event will be played on August 19th and 20th:

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-44-cents and the euro at 19-rand-12-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-94-cents and Bitcoin trades at 96-thousand-149-dollars. Gold sells at two-thousand-891-dollars-95-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 76-dollars-7-cents a barrel.

# And finally: Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs minister, Velenkosini Hlabisa will this week host a national convention with Khoi-San leaders in Johannesburg to address their longstanding challenges. The event aims to foster unity and cooperation within Khoi-San communities. Hlabisa emphasises the importance of constructive dialogue to achieve constitutional and statutory recognition. He reaffirmed CoGTA’s commitment to ensuring the process succeeds.

Stay tuned for more news………….